Northern 150s loaned to TfW

[northwichcat]

The whole thing sounds like a mess. At one point Northern were trying to get as many 150s as possible from London Midland and GWR to reduce the number of brand new trains needed.

Are Northern getting anything to replace them, or will we just see a longer list of short formations?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Are Northern getting anything to replace them, or will we just see a longer list of short formations?

Class 156s have been moving from EMR and there's a few still to come over.

 

[northwichcat]

Class 156s have been moving from EMR and there's a few still to come over.

I thought they were already planned to cover the December 2022 changes.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

I thought they were already planned to cover the December 2022 changes.

If they're due to cover Dec 22 changes then they're late, and I haven't been seeing many short forms on my line, so it doesn't seem like we're missing any trains. (although idk how the Eastern side of Northern is doing in terms of units)

 

[northwichcat]

If they're due to cover Dec 22 changes then they're late

When have cascades or new orders even been completed on time?

Just scanning Mid Cheshire services for the past week there was a short formation one morning and there have been some cancellations.

 

[Geeves]

I could be wrong but when TPE took over some of the work via Warrington Central it left Northern with a surplus of units, which is likely why they can afford to help out elsewhere.

One of the issues recently is that Northern don't have enough storage space for all the units that have been acquired especially of the diesel variety, meaning units physically cannot move around the depot at Newton Heath for example as its so full.

 

[northwichcat]

I could be wrong but when TPE took over some of the work via Warrington Central it left Northern with a surplus of units, which is likely why they can afford to help out elsewhere.

The released 195s seem to have gone on Hope Valley, releasing 150s for strengthening over services and reinstating other services. I think the December 2022 timetable change was the first one since 2018 that included the Mid Cheshire peak time extras, as well as allowing the c.15:00 Chester to Manchester to be operated with 4 carriages. That service had been operated with 4 carriages for around 10 years but was reduced to 2 in 2018 when the Buxton line service got enhanced.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The released 195s seem to have gone on Hope Valley, releasing 150s for strengthening over services and reinstating other services. I think the December 2022 timetable change was the first one since 2018 that included the Mid Cheshire peak time extras, as well as allowing the c.15:00 Chester to Manchester to be operated with 4 carriages. That service had been operated with 4 carriages for around 10 years but was reduced to 2 in 2018 when the Buxton line service got enhanced.

There's also the increase of some Cumbria services to double sets.

 

[Ant158]

Also the Clitheroe\Blackburn to Rochdale service is now mostly 4 cars when it was mainly 2 or 3 cars previously. This is operated by a mix of 150/156 units.

Though the morning peak train that arrives into Manchester from Clitheroe at 08:07 is frustratingly a 2 car each day. Between Bromley Cross and Bolton especially it can be a cosy ride.

Also interesting is that stations Clitheroe, Whalley & Langho have effectively had a downgrade from 3 to 2 carriages despite the 4 car sets as one set is locked out after Ramsgreave & Wilpshire.

 

[northwichcat]

Also interesting is that stations Clitheroe, Whalley & Langho have effectively had a downgrade from 3 to 2 carriages despite the 4 car sets as one set is locked out after Ramsgreave & Wiltshire.

It's frustrating that is the case, especially now Northern have units which have selective door operation. It can happen on the Mid-Cheshire too but there isn't one uniform approach, it seems to depend who the guard is.